By expansion I am referring to resign Bish vs Vasi. If expansion happens we will only be able to protect 1 or the other. If expansion doesn't happen or rules are changed then if/when Stamkos leaves I believe we can afford both for next few years and then make a final decision at that time. With expansion the 1 year clock is ticking and a decision will need to be made
- uf1910

With Stamkos gone, sign Bishop for $7x5 with last three years a limited NTC. That gives us strong goaltending along with flexibility.

Who do you guys think has the higher potential/overall ceiling?
Bishop or Vasi?
- EdmHockeyMan

Vasy.

Who do you guys think has the higher potential/overall ceiling?
Bishop or Vasi?
- EdmHockeyMan

Good question to which it is difficult to give a definitive answer. Bish is a stud, but Vasi is quickly becoming one at the ripe young age of 21. Given the age I would lean towards Vasi, but in the next few years I truly believe both will be considered top 5 tenders overall

Good series, fellas. Those 3rd period full presses were intolerable.

Gotta think Bishop is the difference last night on the 2nd goal... his big body stops that puck and then who knows what happens.

Vasy is a solid though.

Good luck with Stammer and getting all the pieces in play and under the cap! Good problem to have; Stevie Y will get it figured out.
- brienstel

It's all guess work if Bishop would have made a difference. poop happens, but Vasy made some huge saves. Bottom line is Pittsburgh looked better and played better about the entire game and Tampa's offense didn't get it done.

Both backups did remarkably jobs. Vasilevskiy may regret that goal, but his defense didn't really help him out there either.

With Stamkos gone, sign Bishop for $7x5 with last three years a limited NTC. That gives us strong goaltending along with flexibility.
- Artyukhin76

I say try to move Bishop, hand the ball to Vasy. Bishop is great, no question. I don't want him in the East but he is so big he wears down over long seasons. Two in a row now where he is gone in the most important time of the year, plus Vasy is cheaper. Use that money to sign Stamkos and keep the majority of your forward core there. Attempt to move Carle and Filp and you can bring everyone back plus add with the cap space. 5 more years for Bishop is a huge commitment when you have a kid waiting in the wings. You lock up Bishop for that long and maybe Vasey doesn't sign with you since he doesn't see the net as his for a long time.

With Stamkos gone, sign Bishop for $7x5 with last three years a limited NTC. That gives us strong goaltending along with flexibility.
- Artyukhin76

Expansion will happen before those last 3 years so the NTC aspect is immaterial. In this scenario Vasi will have to be moved prior to expansion meaning we will be rolling with Bish so without another young future star Bish won't be traded during those NTC years

I say try to move Bishop, hand the ball to Vasy. Bishop is great, no question. I don't want him in the East but he is so big he wears down over long seasons. Two in a row now where he is gone in the most important time of the year, plus Vasy is cheaper. Use that money to sign Stamkos and keep the majority of your forward core there. Attempt to move Carle and Filp and you can bring everyone back plus add with the cap space. 5 more years for Bishop is a huge commitment when you have a kid waiting in the wings. You lock up Bishop for that long and maybe Vasey doesn't sign with you since he doesn't see the net as his for a long time.
- Kucherovski

I have no issue moving Bishop, most of you crucify me when I mention it. I say, send him to Dallas, Dallas then send equal pay to St. Louis and St. Louis sends us Shattenkirk plus+. Oh and Carle for Neimi straight up.

I have no issue moving Bishop, most of you crucify me when I mention it. I say, send him to Dallas, Dallas then send equal pay to St. Louis and St. Louis sends us Shattenkirk plus+.
- Artyukhin76

Out West is great, I say move him to a place like Calgary or Edmonton. Two places who need a goalie plus have a lot of youth in their system. We have a very solid core so I say move him for some high prospects and then add a D man via free agency. Luke Schenn, Demers?

Out West is great, I say move him to a place like Calgary or Edmonton. Two places who need a goalie plus have a lot of youth in their system. We have a very solid core so I say move him for some high prospects and then add a D man via free agency. Luke Schenn, Demers?
- Kucherovski

I think Dallas has the most pressing need. They have everything in place except between the pipes.

I like Demers, but Shattenkirk is much better.

I think Dallas has the most pressing need. They have everything in place except between the pipes.

I like Demers, but Shattenkirk is much better.
- Artyukhin76

Totally agree but we have our core in place and just need an extra piece or two, Shattenkirk is another core guy. He has one year left on his deal at $4.25 cap hit and $5.2m base salary. He will, most likely, get an increase from that so that is a lot of money again tied up. We have DeAngelo in the minors who can hopefully develop to a top 4 D man.

I think Dallas has the most pressing need. They have everything in place except between the pipes.

I like Demers, but Shattenkirk is much better.
- Artyukhin76

Do you bring Neimi or Lehtonen back in the Bish trade as backup or Vasi tandem? Before he goes there one of those 2 need moved bad.

Lightning d is ol, slow, old and immobile and Hedman looked exhausted

I meet anybody today that blames Vasy for us losing in the conference finals I'm gonna punch gem in the throat.
- Artyukhin76

Were the Penguins on. Pp the whole game And series ?

I have no issue moving Bishop, most of you crucify me when I mention it. I say, send him to Dallas, Dallas then send equal pay to St. Louis and St. Louis sends us Shattenkirk plus+. Oh and Carle for Neimi straight up.
- Artyukhin76

Bishop has a full nmc next year

Do you bring Neimi or Lehtonen back in the Bish trade as backup or Vasi tandem? Before he goes there one of those 2 need moved bad.
- j.boyd919

Carle for Niemi

Bishop has a full nmc next year
- todd1a

That if it's going to happen, it needs to happen before July 1.

Do you bring Neimi or Lehtonen back in the Bish trade as backup or Vasi tandem? Before he goes there one of those 2 need moved bad.
- j.boyd919

They both have two years left, Niemi is cheaper. I don't like moving him to Dallas because I don't want to see Bishop in a Cup Finals if both teams happen to make it. Calgary, Edmonton, Arizona. Pick one of those teams to move him to and get a young prospect from them.

Great series. Your goalie was amazing.

Hopefully for you guys, both sides just sweep Drouin trade talks under the rug. That kid is a stud.

A lot of talk about Tyson Barrie being moved! Yzerman, make this happen!!!!!

Great series. Your goalie was amazing.

Hopefully for you guys, both sides just sweep Drouin trade talks under the rug. That kid is a stud.
- Tiogadog

From what I've seen and read from both sides, it sounds like it has been.

With Stamkos gone, sign Bishop for $7x5 with last three years a limited NTC. That gives us strong goaltending along with flexibility.
- Artyukhin76

Not sure I would do that for Bishop. You have a pretty good backup who might very well be ready to start full time if not at the start of next season, soon after. Don't you have that Latvian kid? He is pretty darn good too.

JMO, you will need to deal Bishop at some point.

They both have two years left, Niemi is cheaper. I don't like moving him to Dallas because I don't want to see Bishop in a Cup Finals if both teams happen to make it. Calgary, Edmonton, Arizona. Pick one of those teams to move him to and get a young prospect from them.
- Kucherovski

Worrying about that is absurd. You only worry about making your team the best you can. In no way is it in Yzerman's head "Can't trade him to Dallas in case, the million to 1 odds of us meeting in the cup happen!!"

I think Stamkos resigns with the Lightning. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes to FA but finds out the money (grass) only looked greener elsewhere. I hope Yzerman signs Hedman asap and doesn't let Bishop go to UFA. Doubt any team will offer sheet Kucherov since it would cost multiple 1st draft picks but who knows. Drouin will be back next year unless Yzerman gets a solid offer and thinks it would be better to move him now.
- Leafsandbolts

I don't think the money works for Stamkos in TB. Not close either. You have Ohlund coming off the books at 3.6 and the Gagner buyout of 1.6, but Killorn, Brown, Kucherov, Paquette, Marchessault, Namestnikov all RFAs. That will be fore than the 5.2 million you are saving with those two contracts off the books.

Then ... Johnson and Palat are RFAs the next year and Hedman and Bishop need to be resigned the following year.

Unless Carle is gone, you can't resign Stamkos at 9 million + and keep your core young players in tact.

Not sure I would do that for Bishop. You have a pretty good backup who might very well be ready to start full time if not at the start of next season, soon after. Don't you have that Latvian kid? He is pretty darn good too.

JMO, you will need to deal Bishop at some point.
- Oneonta Penguin

I'd prefer to move Bishop, but some fanatics lose damn minds of you even hint at it.

I don't think the money works for Stamkos in TB. Not close either. You have Ohlund coming off the books at 3.6 and the Gagner buyout of 1.6, but Killorn, Brown, Kucherov, Paquette, Marchessault, Namestnikov all RFAs. That will be fore than the 5.2 million you are saving with those two contracts off the books.

Then ... Johnson and Palat are RFAs the next year and Hedman and Bishop need to be resigned the following year.

Unless Carle is gone, you can't resign Stamkos at 9 million + and keep your core young players in tact.
- Oneonta Penguin

The numbers just don't work in favor of keeping Stamkos.